An 18-year-old man already accused of a fatal Christmas Eve stabbing in Perth's southern suburbs has been slapped with two additional serious charges as he appeared in court from behind bars.
New Charges Laid in Homicide Investigation
Gyaanveer Singh, 18, faced Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court via video-link from Hakea Prison on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. The hearing was for his second appearance on an original murder charge relating to the death of a 19-year-old man in Aubin Grove.
During this appearance, it was revealed that the homicide squad has now also charged Singh with deprivation of liberty and aggravated armed robbery in connection with the same incident. These new charges stem from the violent altercation that led to the young victim's death on the night of 24 December.
Court Appearance Delayed by Prison Lockdown
The start of Wednesday's brief hearing was delayed by approximately ten minutes. Correctional staff advised the court that the delay was due to a lockdown in Singh's unit at Hakea Prison, which caused issues in accessing prisoners required for video-link appearances.
Once proceedings began, no specific details of the alleged offences were read aloud. The matter was swiftly adjourned until 21 January 2026. This date aligns with the next scheduled court appearances for Singh's two co-accused: a 17-year-old boy and 18-year-old Bongani Nie Khumalo, both also from Byford.
Singh is scheduled to face Armadale Magistrates Court separately on 30 March 2026 for the deprivation of liberty and aggravated armed robbery charges.
Details of the Fatal Aubin Grove Incident
Police allege that Singh, Khumalo, and the 17-year-old were involved in a physical fight with the 19-year-old victim inside and outside a car on Talisker Gate in Aubin Grove. During this altercation, the victim was stabbed multiple times.
The critically injured young man was discovered in the carpark of a shopping centre on Talisker Gate at approximately 10:40pm on Christmas Eve. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Singh was the first of the trio to be arrested, taken into custody on Christmas night. Khumalo and the teenage boy were arrested on Saturday, 27 December. All three now face identical charges of murder, deprivation of liberty, and aggravated armed robbery.
The court hearing on Wednesday was attended by several interested parties, including homicide detectives and two local Aubin Grove residents. One resident, who did not know the victim or the accused, described the case as profoundly "sad" when speaking outside the courtroom.
